After months of confusion, state leaders say the bonus they granted earlier this year is intended for all special education teachers in Mississippi.
Raising teacher pay was a top priority for lawmakers during this past legislative session. Following months of debate, they agreed on a $2,000 pay raise for all teachers and granted special education teachers an additional $2,000 one-time supplement.
The law says “any licensed special education teacher employed by a school district on a full-time basis and specifically providing special education instruction” is eligible for the bonus.
But Mississippi Department of Education officials sent a letter to lawmakers in May, asking them to clarify who the money was for, leaving the bonuses up in the air as many teachers finalized their contracts for the coming school year.
READ MORE: Special education teachers were promised an extra $2,000. Where’s the money?
State Superintendent Lance Evans told state Board of Education members in mid-June that he believed the bonus was just for “self-contained” special education teachers, who exclusively teach students with disabilities in one classroom, and would not apply to “inclusion” teachers, who support students with disabilities in their general education classes.
Lawmakers responded to the agency on June 24 with a letter of legislative intent signed by House Speaker Jason White, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and chairmen of both chambers’ Education and Appropriations committees. The letter specifies that all full-time, licensed special education teachers can receive the bonus.
Education agency spokesperson Jean Cook said full-time inclusion teachers are eligible if they’re appropriately licensed and exclusively teach students with special needs.
However, speech-language pathologists are not eligible for the extra money. Additionally, teachers already receiving a National Board Certification supplement are also ineligible for the special education supplement.
The Legislature’s $14.6-million allocation to the agency for the special education bonus will cover all of the state’s 4,088 eligible teachers, said Jean Cook, a spokesperson for the education agency. She said payments will be disbursed to districts in November.
Mississippi Professional Educators executive director Kelly Riley, who for the past few months has fielded calls from confused superintendents and special education teachers about the bonus, said it was a “positive step.”
“Districts can now finalize contracts with their SPED teachers for the upcoming school year,” she said. “Any uncertainty as to who is to receive the supplement has hopefully been resolved.”
Hence then, the article about all mississippi special education teachers can receive 2 000 bonus lawmakers say was published today ( ) and is available on Mississippi Today ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( All Mississippi special education teachers can receive $2,000 bonus, lawmakers say )
Also on site :
- Man Notices Small Lump on Knee, Then Faces Life-Saving Decision
- Legendary Music Icon Surprises Fans With a Jaw-Dropping Announcement 30 Years in the Making
- KDDI to conduct AI drone feasibility study in Vietnam and the Philippines